As soon as Qin Fang entered, Yang Haiyan and Qin Shouye were startled, and Qin Shouye’s face turned pale from fright.

Seeing this, Yang Haiyan was quite displeased and said, “What are you doing? You come back without a sound, trying to scare me into a stomachache?”

Upon hearing Yang Haiyan’s words, Qin Fang immediately set aside his concerns about Qin Shouye.

He rushed over to support Yang Haiyan and picked her up, heading outside while saying, “Don’t be scared, we’re going to find Doctor Li.”

Yang Haiyan hurriedly said, “Put me down first. I feel uncomfortable like this; please put me down.” If she said her stomach didn’t hurt anymore, he wouldn’t believe her.

She had to say she felt uncomfortable for him to let her go.

Sure enough, Qin Fang put Yang Haiyan down. “Where do you feel uncomfortable? Wait here; I’ll go get Doctor Li to carry you back.”

Since Yang Haiyan felt unwell, he could only bring Doctor Li over, and whether Doctor Li felt comfortable or not was beyond his concern.

Qin Shouye was also scared: “Sister-in-law, are you alright? It’s all my fault.”

If anything happened to his sister-in-law or the baby, he wouldn’t have the face to face his brother or the ancestors of the Qin family.

Yang Haiyan replied, “I’m fine; I’m really okay, and my stomach is fine too, so don’t worry.”

She was saying this to Qin Shouye, then turned to Qin Fang and added, “Husband, I’m okay. What I meant was that you shouldn’t suddenly appear like that; it could scare me and the baby, but I wasn’t really scared this time.”

Qin Fang frowned, still not reassured. “Really, you’re fine?”

Yang Haiyan said, “Do you think I wouldn’t care about the baby?”

Hearing Yang Haiyan say this, he felt relieved.

It was true that she cared about the baby; from the first day of her pregnancy, she had made many clothes and other supplies for the child, so she wouldn’t lie about the baby.

He breathed a huge sigh of relief and quickly apologized, “I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have appeared suddenly and scared you. I will be more careful.”

Actually, Qin Fang wasn’t in the wrong either; she had only said that because Qin Shouye had been frightened, and she hadn’t thought about scaring this man too.

She took his hand and said, “You’re not in the wrong; you’re the best husband and the best father.”

Qin Fang felt his tension eased by her words.

He couldn’t help but want to smile, but upon catching sight of Qin Shouye, he pursed his lips tightly.

He shot Qin Shouye a glance and said, “Go into the study; let’s talk clearly about what’s going on.”

Qin Shouye felt a bit scared; among the Qin family, he was most afraid of his elder brother. “I… I didn’t say anything just now.”

Qin Fang huffed, “As a man, you should stand by what you say. I heard everything very clearly.”

Qin Shouye replied, “I…”

“Shouye, go in,” Yang Haiyan said. “I have something to discuss with you about Miss Li. Don’t be afraid of your brother; he knows some things that I also want to say.” She then tugged at Qin Fang, “Don’t scare him.”

Facing his wife, Qin Fang would never dare to use a harsh tone; he could only nod in agreement.

The three of them returned to the study, and after Yang Haiyan and Qin Fang sat down, Qin Shouye remained standing.

Yang Haiyan said, “Shouye, sit down and let’s talk.”

Qin Shouye looked at Qin Fang.

Qin Fang said, “What are you staring at me for? Sit down and clarify what you just said. Is the girl you admire Miss Li?”

Qin Shouye replied, “Yes.”

Qin Fang frowned, “You can’t be together.”

Miss Li was a good girl and the daughter of Doctor Li; he had no prejudice against her.

If Miss Li was to be considered by someone else, he wouldn’t interfere, but Miss Li and Shouye could not be together.

He minded that Miss Li had been through that kind of incident in the bandit’s den; he couldn’t accept his younger brother being with her.

Qin Shouye felt a tightness in his chest: “Why not?”

Qin Fang didn’t explain.

He had promised Doctor Li not to speak of what happened to Miss Li in the bandit’s lair, and he was also strict about keeping the knowledge of this incident to himself, so he wouldn’t disclose it.

But regarding this matter, he disagreed.

Yang Haiyan observed Qin Fang’s expression and understood what he was thinking.

As a man in ancient times, Qin Fang placed great importance on a woman’s reputation and chastity, and she completely understood this.

If Miss Li were to marry someone else, he wouldn’t have any objections.

However, being in the bandit’s den… although it was not her wish, the outcome was something she had to bear.

It was indeed innocent and unjust, but society is simply that realistic.

Not to mention ancient times; even in modern society, many people still value whether a woman has maintained her virginity.

Even many keyboard warriors harbor malice against women who have been victimized.

Therefore, she understood Qin Fang’s thoughts to some extent.

However, seeing Qin Shouye’s pale face, Yang Haiyan found an excuse, saying, “Because Doctor Li wouldn’t agree.”

Qin Shouye asked, “Is it because I’m not good enough for her?”

Yang Haiyan sighed, “Not exactly. On the way here, someone asked Doctor Li what kind of son-in-law he wanted for Miss Li. She is smart, beautiful, and capable, so naturally, many would be interested in her. But Doctor Li said, first, he wanted to keep Miss Li for a few more years; second, he only has one daughter and wants someone to marry into their family; and third, Miss Li fell ill when she was young and can never have children. Your elder brother disagrees because of the last two points. He doesn’t want you to marry in and doesn’t want to see you without children.

Shouye, think about it.

Would you be willing to marry in? It’s like how your third uncle wants to find a son-in-law for Sanya. Also, you would never have children. You might not feel it now, but what about when you grow old? Think carefully about it.”

If Qin Shouye could accept such a situation, she would talk to Doctor Li about it, informing him of Qin Shouye’s feelings and see what Doctor Li thought.

Although Qin Shouye had matured compared to before, he was still a sixteen-year-old boy.

Could he accept the fact that the girl he liked had been taken away to a bandit den and might have been with several bandits?

Of course, Yang Haiyan didn’t know if it was one bandit or several; no one would ask Miss Li about such matters.

Continuing on this subject, Yang Haiyan added, “There’s another point. If your elder brother develops well in the future, he might go to another place. But when Doctor Li relied on your elder brother, he said he was willing to follow him to other places.

However, he didn’t want to go to such a big place like the capital. So, Shouye, if you were with Miss Li, would you be willing to stay here or go back to your hometown in Baili Village for her?

Shouye, loving someone isn’t just about saying ‘I like her.’ There are many factors to consider. You can think about everything I said. If you are willing to live without children in the future, willing to marry into the Li family, and even willing to stay in Baili Village for Miss Li, then I will bring this up with Doctor Li.

But please don’t talk directly to Miss Li about it, because the issue of not being able to have children is a lifelong pain for her.”

The matter of being taken by bandits would be a lifelong pain for Miss Li.

When Qin Shouye left, he felt a bit dazed, his mind a blank.

He liked Miss Li, but the ideas of marrying in and not being able to have children were things he had never thought about, nor dared to think about.

As for marrying in, he could understand it; after all, his third uncle only had one daughter, and wasn’t that the intention? He didn’t resent or disagree with what had happened in his family.

But the issue of not being able to have children put him in a dilemma.

Would he never have his own children in the future?

Watching Qin Shouye leave, Yang Haiyan turned to Qin Fang, who was also looking at her. “I…”

Qin Fang had just spoken a word and then pursed his lips.

Yang Haiyan walked to the door and closed it.

She wasn’t worried about anyone eavesdropping because Aunt Yu was outside the yard.

Besides Qin Fang, anyone who came to her yard would be stopped by Aunt Yu, and then reported.

Something like today’s sudden appearance of Qin Fang wouldn’t happen to others.

Seeing her close the door, Qin Fang instinctively stood up. “Yanyan, I…”

Yang Haiyan sat down opposite him. “Husband, let’s talk about Shouye’s situation.”

Qin Fang obediently sat down. “Talk about… what? Didn’t you say those few reasons today? I think they’re quite good.”

The real situation with Miss Li couldn’t be disclosed, but those fabricated reasons sounded fine.

Yang Haiyan asked, “I want to ask, husband, why were you so emotional just now? Why didn’t you agree to Miss Li and Shouye being together?”

Qin Fang pouted; he couldn’t say.

He wasn’t a fool. If he said something, his wife would surely resent him.

But he also didn’t want to deceive her, so he was honest: “Even though I’m grateful to Doctor Li, with what happened to Miss Li, my grandparents wouldn’t agree, and neither would my parents. I know them very well. If Shouye wants to be with Miss Li, such a thing cannot be hidden from them. At least I wouldn’t hide it from them.”

He didn’t want to deceive his grandparents and parents in this situation.

Yang Haiyan had long anticipated this reason. She asked in a different way, “What if something like this happened to me?”

“It’s impossible.” Qin Fang denied it outright. “You are already married to me. You are the general’s wife, the village lady; how could such a thing happen?”

Yang Haiyan said, “But what if one day I go out shopping and get taken by bandits, and such a thing happens? Would you abandon me? Would you oppose Shouye and Miss Li, oppose us?”

Qin Fang said without hesitation, “No, you are mine. No matter what happens, even if it costs my life, you are still mine.” He took Yang Haiyan’s hand. “Yanyan, no matter what happens, I will be by your side.” If she was really taken by bandits, he would kill all the bandits and rescue her. No matter the outcome, she would be by his side.

Yang Haiyan countered, “So, you wouldn’t despise me, right?”

“How could I?” Just thinking about her going through such a thing made his heart ache. “I would only feel sorry for you. This isn’t your fault; how could I despise you?”

Yang Haiyan smiled when she heard this. “What if after Shouye learns about it, he feels even more pity for Miss Li, would you still oppose it?”